1) Double-click on the “Falcon MC 1.01 Patch” icon.
2) On the dialog box that pops up, click the “Patch” button. (If you click on the “Info” button, you will see instructions for using the patch program.)
3) In the window that comes up, find the drive and folder that Falcon MC is in.
4) Select “Falcon MC” and click the “Open” button.
5) The watch will appear, and there will be a wait of three or four minutes while the patch program works. When it is done, a window will pop up saying “Patch completed successfully.” Just click “OK” to exit the patch program.
TO CHECK WHAT VERSION YOU HAVE, load Falcon MC and choose “About Falcon MC…” from the Apple menu. Or, from the desktop, you can select Falcon MC and choose “Get Info” from the File menu.
ADDITIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS SINCE VERSION 1.0:
• When your home base’s defenses destroy a MiG, it no longer just disappears. The MiG will explode, and you will get a radio message from Home Plate saying, “This is Home Plate. MiG downed by base defenses.”
• Version 1.01 fixes a problem in version 1.0 where a MiG could get so far away from the F-16 that the program would think that the MiG was right on top of the Falcon and cause a midair collision. This usually happened when trying to outrun a MiG.
• The problem associated with promotions has been fixed. In version 1.0, if you received more than 8,000 points, you would be promoted once every time you flew a mission, which resulted in impossibly high ranks that would halt the program. The new version will repair any old settings files and return super-ranked pilots to the proper rank of colonel.
• There is a new sensitive vertical control which is similar to the rudder controls, but is only accessible from the keyboard (not through a mouse or joystick). It is activated by using the Shift key in conjunction with any of the keyboard vertical controls (arrow keys, I and M, or 2 and 8 on the numeric keypad). The regular control keys are disabled while Shift is pressed (i.e., you can’t bank the plane while Shift is pressed). The regular nose-down control effect has also been increased, so you should be able to nose into a dive more quickly.
• The desktop on the main monitor and the menu bar can be hidden while Falcon MC is running. This means that you can black out your desktop and your menu bar to cut down on distractions while playing.
There are two new selections in the Options menu for “Hidden Desktop” and “Hidden Menu Bar.” They have command key equivalents of Cmd-D and Cmd-H respectively. The game defaults to “hidden desktop” and visible menu bar, but will remember any changes you make. The menu bar cannot be hidden when the desktop is visible.
• A new Sounds menu has been added, and the Options menu has been rearranged with Set Difficulty at the top.
• In AppleTalk head-to-head, if one player declines the rematch, the other player will time out waiting for a response and will be given the option to “Cancel” or “Keep Trying.”
Occasionally, however, when one player declines a rematch, the non-declining player will be dropped into the cockpit and immediately get a message that his opponent’s plane had crashed. This does not mean the game has crashed, and you can decline a rematch and exit at that point.
• Version 1.01 fixes problems with mouse controls on newer Macintoshes, such as Centris models. In version 1.0, the mouse button only temporarily centered the stick in Button-Center mode. Once the button was released, the stick returned to its former position. In Auto-Center mode, the stick would not auto-center and remained at whatever location it was moved to.
• The MouseStick I drift problems have been fixed. Previously, there were some reports that the plane would drift one way or the other while the stick was centered. This should no longer happen.
• Falcon MC now recognizes the Gravis SuperMouse as distinct from the MouseStick and will no longer disable the SuperMouse when the program is run.
• There is a RARE situation where Falcon MC has difficulty recognizing certain Gravis devices. If you are having trouble getting Falcon MC to recognize your Gravis MouseStick or other Gravis device, there is a file in the MouseStick Sets folder called “MouseStick patch.” Depending on your situation, you should move it into the Falcon MC folder and rename it as follows:
If a MouseStick is your only input device and you need it to move the cursor around (i.e., you have no mouse hooked up), rename “MouseStick patch” to “MouseStick Zero.”
If you have a MouseStick I, rename “MouseStick patch” to “MouseStick One.”
If you have a MouseStick II, rename “MouseStick patch” to “MouseStick Two.”
NOTE: DO NOT DO ANY OF THIS IF YOUR MOUSESTICK WORKS!
• Version 1.01 is compatible with Sound Manager 3.0 from Apple.
• The Echo 3 SAM site problem has been fixed. The Echo 3, Foxtrot 1 and Foxtrot 2 SAM sites were confused in the shipping version, which sometimes caused their statuses to be switched with each other when starting a new mission. If one was destroyed but not the other two, it was possible for the destroyed one to be rebuilt before it was supposed to. This no longer happens.
• As of version 1.01, Cmd-P will pause the game.
NOTES FROM VERSION 1.0:
• In head-to-head mode, the menu bar options for “Black Box,” “Set Control…” and “Comm Setup…” are disabled in the simulation. “Set Control…” is available between duels at the armament screen, however.
• “Q” is disabled in head-to-head mode (although Cmd-Q will still quit the game). Use “P,” Cmd-P or Esc to pause the game.
TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS:
• If you have problems running the game immediately after installation, just restart your Macintosh and try running Falcon MC again.
• If you have problems with Falcon MC, try turning off your INITs and Extensions. If you are running under System 6, just remove the INIT files from your System Folder. If you are running under System 7, hold down the Shift key when your Mac boots to turn off all Extensions.
• A MouseStick II will not work with an original MouseStick (unless it has been upgraded). The following combinations of MouseSticks can work together:
2 original MouseSticks
2 MouseStick IIs
1 MouseStick II and 1 original MouseStick with upgrade
Contact Advanced Gravis for details on how to get the MouseStick upgrade.
• Turn Virtual Memory off in the Memory control panel when running under System 7 to increase game speed.
• If you are having problems connecting at 9600 baud in head-to-head mode, try switching who is calling and who is answering. If there is still a problem, try connecting at a slower speed such as 2400 baud.
• If you experience color switching problems and you are running Hand-Off II, disable the color switching from the Hand-Off II control panel (set it for “no change”).
